A data storage device, e.g., a disc drive, includes one or more heads including a transducer. Each head also includes a deformable material that allows the spacing adjustments between the transducer and a data storage medium, e.g., a data storage disc, according to each of a plurality of settings. The device calculates a response function of a spacing change to a setting change for each head by measuring a change in the pole tip-data storage medium spacing corresponding to at least two settings. The device also determines an optimal setting. The device may also repeat response function calculations and/or determination of optimal settings to ensure continued optimal performance of the device. In summary, the device sets an optimal setting for each head according to a calculated response function particular to each head.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A device comprising: a data storage medium; a transducer for communicating with the data storage medium; a deformable material that provides a distance between the data storage medium and the transducer corresponding to one of a plurality of selectable settings that control an activating energy that deforms the deformable material; and a control module integrated with the device that determines a response function of a change in the distance between the data storage medium and the transducer relative to a change in selected settings of the plurality of selectable settings.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein determining the response function includes writing a first pattern to a first location of the data storage medium and writing a second pattern to a second location of the data storage medium wherein the second location is adjacent to the first location.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first location is a first track and the second location is a second track.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first location on a first track and the second location is also on the first track.
5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first pattern is a 2T pattern and the second pattern is a 4T pattern.
6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the data storage medium is a disc and the first and second locations are near an inner diameter of the disc.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein determining the response function further includes writing the first pattern to a third location and writing the second pattern to a fourth location, wherein the third location is adjacent to the fourth location and the third and fourth locations are near an outer diameter of the disc.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the data storage medium is a disc and determining the response function includes: measuring a first amplitude gain control (AGC) value at a first location using a first setting of the plurality of settings; measuring a second AGC value at the first location using a second setting of the plurality of settings; and calculating a change in spacing of the transducer and the data storage medium according to the first AGC value, the second AGC value, a rotational velocity of the disc, and a frequency of a data pattern written to the first location.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control module uses the response function to calculate an optimal setting, wherein the optimal setting is one of the plurality of selectable settings.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein calculating an optimal setting includes: incrementally increasing an operational setting selected from the plurality of settings to move the transducer closer to a surface of the data storage medium with each increment; detecting when the transducer contacts the surface of the data storage medium; recording a contact setting of the plurality of settings that corresponds to the detection of the transducer-data storage medium surface contact; and determining the optimal setting from the contact setting and a desired transducer-data storage medium spacing using the response function.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the control module compares the optimal setting to a current setting to determine if the optimal setting is within predefined acceptable limits, wherein the current setting is one of the plurality of settings, wherein if the optimal setting is within predefined acceptable limits, the control module selects the optimal setting for future operation of the device, and wherein if the optimal setting is not within predefined acceptable limits, the control module indicates the device is unstable.
12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the optimal setting corresponds to a predetermined optimal distance between the data storage medium and the transducer.
13. A method comprising: writing a first pattern to a first location on a data, storage medium of a device; selecting a first setting from a plurality of settings that corresponds to a first distance between the data storage medium and a transducer of the device; receiving a first signal produced by the transducer as the transducer reads the first pattern at the first setting; selecting a second setting from a plurality of settings that corresponds to a second distance between the data storage medium and the transducer; receiving a second signal produced by the transducer as the transducer reads the first pattern at the second setting; and determining a first response function that relates the difference between the first distance and the second distance to the difference between the first setting and the second setting according to the first signal and the second signal.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: writing a second pattern to a second location on the data storage medium; receiving a third signal produced by the transducer as the transducer reads the second pattern at the first setting; receiving a fourth signal produced by the transducer as the transducer reads the second pattern at the second setting; determining a second response function that relates the difference between the first distance and the second distance to the difference between the first setting and the second setting according to the third signal and the fourth signal; and combining the first response function with the second response function to produce a calculated response function.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the data storage medium is a disc and the first and second locations are near an inner diameter of the disc.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: writing the first pattern to a third location; and writing the second pattern to a fourth location, wherein the third location is adjacent to the fourth location and the third and fourth locations are near an outer diameter of the disc.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a first AGC value and the second signal corresponds to a second AGC value.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a first set of AGC values and the second signal corresponds to a second set of AGC values, wherein each AGC value in the first set of AGC values corresponds to a different sector within the first location and each AGC value in the second set of AGC values corresponds to a different sector within the second location.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first response function is a second order function.
20. A device comprising: a data storage medium; a transducer that communicates with the data storage medium; a component that adjusts a distance between the data storage medium and the transducer according to each of a plurality of selectable settings; a means for determining a response function correlating the distance to the plurality of selectable settings; and a means for determining an optimal setting among the plurality of selectable settings.
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February 17, 2006
August 23, 2011
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